DayStrider: Tales from a Time Traveler

Oct 21st: Spark of Genius

• Truman Pastworthy • Episode 19

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October 21st is no ordinary day - it’s one that rewrote the rules and where the future took shape in a flash of brilliance.  Whether it’s that bolt of inspiration or the result of grit and grind, October 21st is a showcase of how sparks of genius can change everything!

  • In the late 1800’s, a single flick of a switch banished darkness once and for all
  • In the early 1940’s a humble late lunch sparked a revolution in restaurants and ballparks worldwide
  • In the late 1950’s a wealthy art collector broke all the rules to force abstract art into to the public’s eye

If it's a special day for you or for someone you care about, listening to some fun, engaging tales of the past will make it even better!  You’ll find yourself a little smarter and have some great stories you can tell when you bump into folks at the soccer fields!  If you need some great gift ideas, we have those too (along with links to where you can find them on Amazon).

Don't miss these links (they worked in late-2024 - not sure how long the links will be available):

Gift ideas for folks who celebrate October 21st:

Text me your favorite time travel movie!!!


~~~ DayStrider Fun ~~~


Do you want to be mentioned here in the podcast? Or do you want me to do a shout-out for a loved one? All you need to do is send me an e-mail: daystriderstories@gmail.com


Better yet, you can record your own shout-out by leaving me a voice message using this SpeakPipe link


Do you have a story that you wish to share? Join me as a guest and let’s tell the world together! Once again, just send me an e-mail or find me here on Facebook: Truman Pastworthy


If you had as much fun listening as I did creating this episode, please click "follow" in your favorite podcast platform . . . oh . . . and even better - why not share it with a friend (or three)! I’m betting you know just the perfect person who would enjoy today’s stories!


If you feel adventurous, how 'bout writing a great review? :-)



Truman:

Welcome seeker. October 21st is no ordinary day. It's one that rewrote the rules and where the future took shape in a flash of brilliance. Whether it's that bolt of inspiration or the result of grit and grind, October 21st is a showcase of how sparks of genius can change everything. And as always, your portal is warmed up and ready to stride through history with me. Our journey of illumination will begin in the late 1800s when a single flick of a switch banished darkness once and for all, forever changing how we live, work, and create. Then we're off to the Mexican border where a humble late lunch sparked a revolution in restaurants and ballparks worldwide. In fact, you may just change what's on the menu for dinner tonight. And then for the first time ever, we will invite some imaginary insiders to join the show and tell the tale of the most innovative approach to presenting abstract art. We'll return you to your normal self with a bit more knowledge and some great stories to share with others. After striding through October 21st, you'll have a whole new appreciation for how innovation of all forms can change the future entirely. Oh yeah, the portal's humming. History's waiting, and we've got some stories that need to be told. Time's a-tickin', so let's get to it. Welcome, Seekers, to the enchanting world of Daystrider, the podcast where we embark on a daily journey through history. I'm your travel guide, Truman Pastworthy, and together we'll explore some fascinating stories that happened on this exact day, but from some time in the past. From groundbreaking inventions to remarkable birthdays and extraordinary events to quirky national holidays, we've got it all. So kick back, relax, and open your mind for some lighthearted stories that'll leave you saying, huh, I never knew that happened on this day. Alrighty then, let's get to it. Close your eyes for a second. Complete darkness, right? That's how every day ended for everyone, everywhere in the world, until one stubborn inventor refused to accept it. This is the story of how humanity reclaimed the night, giving us cozy late-night reading, evening sports, and romantic city lights. Now, obviously, in today's world, light is ubiquitous. It's everywhere. And when you just now closed your eyes, it probably wasn't even actually completely dark. In fact, it's almost impossible to get complete darkness in your home. There are all kinds of lights in the kitchen on the appliances. There are lights on the entertainment center and on your clocks. Even if you go into the powder room and shut the door and lay a towel down across the bottom to keep light from seeping under, there's a teeny tiny light on that little electrical outlet. You can't get away from light. But back in the 1800s, it was the complete opposite. When the sun set, your world turned pitch black. No Netflix, no phone screens, just you and the dark. Basically, businesses, they had to shut down and nightlife was relegated to whatever could be done in candlelight. Yeah, so you could read books and write letters and do some things in the semi-dark. Now, obviously, open flames presents a challenge, right? A candle could blow out, or it could fall over and catch your curtains on fire. You know, minor inconveniences like burning your whole house down. Yeah, so all through the 1800s, inventors were trying hard to come up with a safe and effective way to have more light and brighter light so that they could extend their daytime activities into the night. And they actually perfected the candle by creating gaslighting. Now, when you hear me use the term gaslighting, you probably think of emotional abuse and manipulation. But actually, for 60 years or so, gaslighting was how they lit the city streets and how some wealthy folks lit their houses. Yeah, they burned gaslights, which wasn't the best form of light. And it left lots of black soot on things. Man, it could explode. Or if the circulation wasn't great in your home or you left your windows closed, you could die from carbon monoxide poisoning. There's that. And if you wanted it brighter, you either cranked up the gas flow, which was dangerous, or you just added more gas lights, even more dangerous. There had to be a better way, right? Well, during the 1800s, the race was on to make light using electricity. And when you think of the light bulb, you probably all think of Thomas Edison, right? Well, believe it or not, he didn't actually invent the electric light bulb. But what he did do was perfect it to a point where people could stop bringing flames into their homes and they could begin using much safer, much brighter, and more efficient lighting. Let me tell you his story. And we'll start with a fun fact. Edison's full name was Thomas Alva Edison. And actually, most folks called him Alva. Yep. So before Alva was even born, a couple of different inventors had created electric lighting. And I'll skip all the science-y stuff and have you picture in your mind these early inventors watching in amazement as their tiny wires began to glow when they hooked up the battery, only to be crushed when it fizzled out. And then someone discovered if you did this in a vacuum, the glow was even brighter and lasted longer until it flashed out. And then finally, when they got it all figured out, the best wires available were way too expensive and couldn't be mass-produced to make lighting. They kept at it, but in the meantime, Alva started his own path. He first got into chemistry and tinkered around with his own lab when he was a teenager. And then he got into communications and improved the telegraph, which you already learned about in the January 8th episode. By his early 20s, he wasn't just inventing things. He was revolutionizing them. For example, for Wall Street, he invented the stock ticker. Yes, it's true. Using this, they could telegraph out the stock market price changes for every stock all across the country. Immediate information. Yes. Ticker tape was a real thing back in the day with printed stock prices. Every invention made him bolder and hungrier for the next big challenge. And around 30, he invented the phonograph, which allowed people to record and play back sound. It's amazing. And then he invented an electric pen that was essentially the precursor to copy machines. Oh yeah, and then he invented a voting machine and on and on. So you're getting the idea here that this guy was brilliant. And he was also famous by now. And so guess what happened when he announced that he decided to perfect the electric light bulb? Yeah, guess. Gas stocks tanked. Yeah, the market was shaken when Alva simply announced he was going to make the electric light better. And what's crazy is the day he made that announcement, he didn't even know how he was going to do it. He just boldly claimed, it'll be done in six to eight weeks. He was off a little. He was actually off a lot. But here's the deal. Instead of just stumbling into an idea and then tweaking it, Alva attacked the lighting problem with brute force. Literally, he hired an army of 40 researchers, and they set off in an organized and systematic approach to find the ideal filament, which is that tiny little wire that glows inside the bulb. Now, no one likes to fail, right? Well, imagine not failing a few times or even failing a dozen times. Imagine failing over 3,000 times. Watching your sparks of hope fizzle out over and over. I can picture the team trudging into work every day. Set up a new filament. Try it. Fail. Okay. After lunch, we'll try again. Fail. Fail. Oh, my gosh. We'll go home. We'll sleep on it. We'll figure something out overnight. Come back the next day. Try another idea. Fail. Imagine this never-ending failure and experiment fatigue and no support from your coworkers because they're all on the same journey. Eventually, several months of this, every day you round up some of your buddies and say, look, Alva, this isn't going to work. Maybe you shouldn't be wasting your money. And at the time, he invested over $40,000 into this project, or about $1.2 million in today's money. Maybe, Alva, this is a dumb idea. No, guys. Come on. We can do this. We are not stopping. The solution's right there in front of us. We are so close. Actually, it was really, really close. The team was wearing the solution to work with him every day and sleeping between the solution every night. Now, before we reveal what this filament was, remember when I said he was a little off with his two-month claim? It actually took him 14 months of experiment after experiment until they finally found the filament that would change the world forever. One that would light up for a long period of time and work every time you turned the power off and then turned it back on. Phew. All right. You want to guess what that best material was? Go ahead. Give it a guess. Come on. Did you go for carbonized cotton thread? Hopefully you got my hint about clothing and sheets, right? Well, if you guessed that, you're spot on. On this day in 1879, that cotton thread inside of a vacuum tube bulb glowed for 15 hours straight. Yay! Success! And of course, They kept going and discovered that carbonized bamboo filaments were the very best option, and that one would burn for 1,200 hours without fail. But anyway, Alva loved himself some drama. And so it wasn't going to be enough to just invite members of the press to come check out some light bulb. No, he wanted a spectacle. So he and his team made up almost 50 of these bulbs and wired them all up, half of them outside his Menlo Park facility and the other half inside in various rooms, each with their own light switch. And they invited the press and then some wealthy looky-loos were also able to join and they were all lucky enough to get this special invitation to visit Menlo Park on New Year's Eve that year. And they got the most electrifying party ever hosted for mankind. They were truly amazed and impressed. The reporters described the bulbs as little globes of sunshine and the flash of a thousand diamond facets. And now people could have light at night. safer, cleaner, brighter, and on demand. But of course, you also needed electric to make the light bulb work. And back then, there were no power plants, no electrical cables, no nothing. So guess what? Edison had to invent an entire infrastructure to make electricity and then deliver it everywhere so people could buy his new light bulb and brighten their nights. But that It's a whole different story. One about General Electric, and one we'll cover on April 24th. So tonight, when you flip that switch and grab your toothbrush, say, thanks Alva. His dedication and stubbornness allowed the world to step out of the darkness and into an era of light. Edison truly sparked one of the greatest revolutions in human history. Music Roses are red and light shines bright. Writing a review would make my night. Not sure of the words? Don't be in doubt. Type, this pod's a gem. You should check it out. Picture this. You're at the ballpark, or maybe the movie theater, and you're craving a salty snack. So what do you go grab? Nachos, of course! Come on, we've all done it. You know you have. You can admit it. And when scarfing down those chips, did you find yourself licking that gooey cheese off your fingers? And thinking, what even is this magical stuff? Well, hang tight, because you are about to find out. Believe it or not, this nacho cheese goop has been around since the early 1970s. But it was a best-kept secret in Dallas, Texas for quite some time. Cheesy nachos was a popular treat at both the Rangers ballpark and Cowboys Stadium for many years. And the guy who invented that cheese, Frank Liberto, couldn't figure out how to get the word out. But then, along came Monday Night Football co-host Howard Cosell. And bam! Nachos got shout-outs nationwide. So the story goes that during a commercial break, he got the munchies. And someone brought him some stadium nachos with that same gooey cheese we were just talking about. And he loved them. And then, once he was back on air, he talked about them during the broadcast. In fact, he wouldn't stop talking about them that night. He even nicknamed a great running play a nacho run. Get it? Run fast because you're out of nachos. Okay, maybe not so funny, but still. Cosell kept using that term, nacho run, in his color commentary at Monday night games throughout the rest of the season, so stadiums outside of Texas. So, what did the father of nacho cheese do after hearing that? Of course, he struck fast, reaching out to every stadium concessionaire in the book. And before you knew it, nachos were popping up everywhere. By the 80s, nacho cheese was practically running the snack scene. It went from a Texas secret to a national obsession. Yeah. Now, technically, the FDA says this nacho cheese isn't real. Eh, who cares about labels, right? Well, nacho cheese, real or not, has a secret ingredient called sodium citrate, and that's what makes it magically gooey. Now, I don't want to give you a headache taking you back to high school chemistry class, but you are going to love this. Are you ready? You know how H2O is water, right? Two parts hydrogen, one part oxygen, right? Well, brace yourself for a mind-blowing moment. Sodium citrate is sodium nitrate. Carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Different parts of each, but that doesn't matter. What matters is sodium's chemical letters are N-A. Right? So you have N-A, C for carbon, H and O, N-A-C-H-O, nacho. Yes! How crazy is that? The formula for the stuff that makes nacho cheese is nacho. I'm telling you, it's true. Alright, so... Truman, why are we even bothering talking about all this stuff in the first place? Well, perhaps you already know that October 21st is International Nacho Day. And now you're going to learn why that's the case so. No? Not punny? Okay, fine. On this day in 1943, nachos were invented. Yeah. So let me introduce you to the legend himself, Ignacio Anaya. Now, he just wasn't any old Major D at the Victory Club, which is a cozy little spot just across the Mexican border. No, he was actually set to become a culinary genius. Yep, so one day, a group of ladies from Eagles Pass, Texas, went on a shopping trip across the border in Mexico. And they stopped at the Victory Club for a really late lunch. Or maybe it was a really early dinner. Who knows? Either way, Ignacio got them seated and then discovered that the folks in the kitchen were not around. I guess they were out on break between meals or something. Who knows? Now, before I keep going, you know how Bobby is a nickname for Robert? Well, Nacho is a nickname for Ignacio. And that's going to be the key, so pay attention. Our friend Ignacio, or Nacho, needed to keep his customers happy. So he went back into the kitchen and threw some stuff together for the ladies. Some fried tortilla chips, some cheese, some pickled jalapenos, throw them all together, warm them up in the oven, and bam! And the ladies loved them. They're like, what is this? What are these things called? And he responded, nachos especiales. That's right, Ignacio's Special. And obviously, nachos stuck. Yeah, how about that? A made-up name for a made-up meal that turned into a fun snack that has been enjoyed by millions ever since. And that was 80 years ago. Nowadays, nachos have evolved quite a bit. Yeah, you can travel around the world and find all kinds of unique twists on this tasty treat. In Southern Europe, you'll find a Mediterranean nachos that has feta cheese, olives, and tzatziki sauce. In some parts of Asia, you'll find fusion nachos with ingredients like teriyaki chicken or kimchi. And nachos are no longer just an appetizer. They can be a full meal. And even better, they can be a dessert. Like cinnamon sugar dusted tortilla chips topped with sweet ingredients like chocolate sauce or caramel or even ice cream. Yeah, now that's good stuff. Yeah, so if this segment has made you hungry for some cheese-topped salty chips, guess what? There's a website out there where someone lists the tastiest nachos in every U.S. state. Yeah, and the article says our selections are based on genuine user reviews, awards and accolades, and firsthand experience of our team. Mm-hmm. That sounds like a good team to be on, right? I want to get that job. I'll leave the link to that article in the show notes so you can check out your state's best tasting nachos. Now, to be fair, people in Mexico have been eating fried tortillas topped with cheese and other yummy stuff for hundreds and hundreds of years. But surprisingly, somehow, the dish didn't have an actual name. So it was just a family-by-family treat. Until... A man named Nacho had a eureka moment. Oh, and don't forget to top that off with the magic of N-A-C-H-O cheese. Yep, so the next time you're digging into a plate of those gooey cheesy delights, remember, you're not just snacking, you are biting into history. A time traveler's delight, we sometimes get cheesy. But history's wonders make learning so easy. If these tales have amused or brightened your day, please share with your friends. Send some fun their way. Do you ever catch yourself thinking about breaking the rules? Maybe you even dare to do it once or twice. It's thrilling, right? Well, when rich folks break the rules, we often hear all about it in the media. And when rich folks use their wealth to intentionally alter societal norms, it doesn't always go well. Yeah, today we're striding back to the origins of just such a rule breaker. A building that shook up the art world at first and then eventually became an icon. That's right, we're talking about the Guggenheim Museum. And to spice things up, I've got some colorful characters here that will paint us a picture you won't find in any gallery. First, let's meet Cynthia, our passionate art student. Cynthia, what's your take on this unusual building and its contents? Oh yes, let me tell you that the Guggenheim is like jazz for the eyes. It's not just housing art. It's challenging our very perception of space. Abstract art allows artists to express pure emotion through color, shape, and form. Think of Pollock's drip paintings or Rothko's color fields and how they challenge our perceptions and invite us to feel art rather than just see it. Well, that's quite an endorsement. Mr. Weinberg, you're a deli owner just around the corner. What's your perspective on this cultural shake-up? Abstract art, smabstract art. If I wanted to see random splotches, I'd take a look at the stains on my apron after a busy lunch rush, eh? So you aren't a fan, Mr. Weinberg? All right, well, how would you suggest we enhance the culture in New York City? You want culture? Bring back the stoop sitting and neighborhood block parties. These big mucky mucks with their swanky museums, they're forgetting the heart of this city is in its people, not its buildings. I see. Sounds like we've got some conflicting opinions here. If you haven't seen this museum, you should know that it is pretty unique. When it was being built, people chastised it as an inverted cupcake or a washtub without handles. What do you think, Tony? You actually drove those, quote, muckety-mucks around in your cab looking for the perfect site, right? Look, I think it's a big, huge eyesore, like a messed-up pretzel. But there I am, right, driving Mr. G and this Frankie fella around town, and they're yakking about spirals and organic forms, and I'm thinking, jeez, did these two guys fall into a barrel of hooch? But I'll tell you what. Hearing them argue was better than any radio show, that's for sure. Frankie's going on about his vision, and Mr. G's face is turning redder than a stoplight on for it to have. But don't you see? Those spirals are pure genius. It's not just a building, it's a revolution in how we experience art. As you ascend the ramp, it's like you're on a journey through creativity itself with each turn revealing new perspectives. It's the perfect marriage of form and function. Wright didn't just design a museum. He created a work of art that celebrates art. Well said, Cynthia. Well said. So folks, we're talking about the Guggenheim Museum because it actually opened on this day in 1959, right in the heart of New York City along Fifth Avenue, overlooking Central Park. Its unusual shape caused quite a stir back in 1952 when the plans were first submitted. It took over three years before they issued the permits because there was such opposition to it. Opposition? Oof! You're telling me. It was like a Yom Kippur service in there. Everyone had something to atone for. 21 big shot artists signed some fancy smedgy letter saying the joint would make their masterpieces look like chopped liver. Such service over a building. I thought we were getting the second coming, not a glorified snail shell. You're not far off, Mr. Weinberg. The building does resemble a snail shell. both inside and out. It features a spiraling, continuous ramp that winds upwards for six turns around the central atrium. Visitors ascend the gentle incline viewing art along the curving walls, all culminating on a skylit rotunda. Frank Lloyd Wright aimed to create a fluid, immersive art viewing experience. I'd say he succeeded. Those words give me a headache just hearing them. Listen. Frankie and Mr. G were like oil and vinegar the whole time we were looking for sites. But then, in swoops Ms. Hilla. She's like the umpire of the Yanks Sox gang. She goes on about spiritual elevations and temples of non-objectivity, whatever that is. I don't know, but it got these two nodding like a couple of dashboard ornaments. I'm thinking, Tony, you could have been driving for Yogi Berra, but no. You get this crazy art crowd. Oh, yes. The Baroness. The spilkies at the deli could curdle milk. People yanked at her artistic collaboration with Saul was a little more hands-on, if you know what I mean. But, hey, who am I to judge? Mr. Weinberg, really? That's so unfair. Baroness Rebay was the beating heart of this project, not some tabloid headline. She practically invented the concept of this museum, championing abstract art when most people couldn't tell Kandinsky from a kid's crayon drawing. Without her vision, we'd probably be looking at another stuffy portrait gallery instead of a revolutionary space that's reshaping how we experience art. It's maddening how people ignore a woman's genius and focus on gossip. Okay, guys, take it easy here. We're just having some fun talking about an alternative museum that features alternative art. And Ms. Hilaribe, yes, she was a baroness from Germany, and Solomon Guggenheim met her in the 1920s after he was already married and had kids. And together the two actually helped revolutionize the art world in America by focusing on growing and then displaying his collection of modern art, or abstract art, or whatever you want to call it. You know what I call it? I call it a plot twist. Neither of our boys lived to see the grand opening. Saul kicked a bucket a decade before. Mr. Right, Tony calls him Frankie. That's funny. Anyway, he left for the great drafting table in the sky just months before the doors opened. But that's life, right? You plan, God laughs, and the rest of us slept to see a building shaped like the bundt cakes we sell on Saturday mornings. Oh. But isn't it wonderful? Despite all of that silly controversy, the Guggenheim became an instant icon. It's officially a city landmark, and it proves that visionary ideas can transcend their creators and become part of our shared cultural legacy. Yep, Cynthia's right. The museum became the youngest structure to make it on the list of official New York City landmarks. It's also an official U.S. landmark that is described by the Department of Interior as one of Frank Lloyd Wright's most important commissions. On top of all that, it's on the UNESCO World Heritage List as well. That's a pretty impressive resume for a building that no one wanted. You know, I gotta admit... After the joint opened, I got a kick out of dropping Fez off. I always told him, hey, you want to know something about this crazy upside-down ice cream cone? I helped pick the spot for it. Maybe one day they'll put up some crazy modern art plaque for Tony's taxi stand. Hey, a guy can dream, right? I ain't hoping. Nope. I jumped on that bandwagon faster than a yento on fresh gossip. Added three new sandwiches to the menu. The Guggenheim Grinder, Rice Twisted Reuben, and for the fancy-schmancy crowd, the Baroness Blinch. Meh, what if they taste like regular sandwiches? It's art, Bubala. You're not supposed to understand it. Just pay through the nose for it. Now it's my turn to say... Oy vey. Well, folks, now you know a little more about this alternative-looking museum and the unusual circumstances that led to its creation. From controversial concept to beloved landmark, the Guggenheim proves that sometimes breaking the rules can create something truly extraordinary. Next time you're in the Big Apple, maybe you should take a spin up that spiral and see for yourself what the fuss is all about. And there you have it. Three great stories that light up our world, fill our plates with joy, and challenge the way we see art and innovation. Whether you're marveling at Edison's brilliance, savoring nachos at the ballpark, or strolling through the iconic Guggenheim, These tales remind us that inspiration can strike in the most unexpected places. Why not share these stories with someone special and spark a little wonder together? If Edison's light bulb scratched your inventor's itch, you've got to make time for The Telegraph on January 8th and The Telephone on October 18th, both revealing sparks of genius that reshaped our world. If fun stories about food innovations had you salivating, then you'll love hearing about the tater tot on February 2nd. And if some on-the-spot inspiration got you going, check out the same, I need to make something for these folks, with the Irish coffee that was invented in the same way. Check out March 17th. And if you like to geek out on architecture, then we got you covered. Check out June 25th with Antoni Gaudi. And stay tuned for December 15th when we talk about the Eiffel Tower. Oh, yeah. Every day has a story and there's so much fun. And we're going to stride through them all until we're done. Have you ever bought something only to feel like it was designed to break? Like your phone or your appliances or even your light bulb? Well... That might not be a coincidence. The conspiracy folks call this planned obsolescence. And it's more real than you may think. Let me tell you why. Back in the early days, Edison's light bulb wasn't just a marvel. It was a symbol of progress. Perfection. So much so that, believe it or not, there's a light bulb that's been glowing since 1901. Yes, it's in a fire station near San Francisco that's been burning over a million hours. Amazing. But guess what? In 1924, everything changed. The focus wasn't on making things better anymore. It was about making them break on purpose. So what happened in 1924? The Phoebus Cartel. They are the bad guys of this story. And they got together because they realized the light bulbs were lasting too long. Profits were shrinking because no one wanted to replace their bulbs. What was their selfish solution? Stop trying so hard to improve the product and instead sabotage it. Yes, sabotage. And this wasn't just a theory. No, no. They left evidence behind Imagine being the one who found all their old letters, where they actually admit to plotting this out. Yes, that's right, buried in some dusty archives in Germany, a journalist found proof of this scheme to sabotage light bulbs. It's a little eerie, isn't it, that something as simple as a light bulb, a symbol of progress, became a tool for profit manipulation? And if they were doing this a hundred years ago, what do you think they're up to now? Probably the next time your phone suddenly slows down or your appliances act up, you might wonder that somewhere out there, someone was working hard to make sure that that product ended up breaking a little earlier than you'd like. After you share these special stories, you can also mention the following famous folks who celebrate their birthdays today. Kim Kardashian, she adds a candle to her cake today. A lot of folks like to ponder why she's even famous. Well, we only have ourselves to blame because we love to gawk at folks who are outrageous. Maybe if my podcasts were more outrageous, I could make them more famous. I don't know. We'll think about it. Alfred Nobel, he was born on this day about 90 years ago. His last name is famous for the Nobel Prize. which we featured on the November 27th episode. Glenn Powell adds another notch to his belt today. Do you know him? His early acting career was filled with supporting character roles, but after he played in Top Gun Maverick with Tom Cruise, who was mentoring him along the way, he started making more popular movies like Anyone But You and the Netflix movie Hitman. And I'm sure everyone knows Judge Judy. Yep, she bangs the gavel today to blow out her candles. Judy Shindlin, that's her real name, is actually in the Guinness Book of World Records for her over 25 years of television arbitration. Isn't that crazy? All right, trivia time. How many cases do you think Judge Judy presided over? Raise your hand if you said more than 2,500. Good, good. Keep it raised if you said more than 25,000. That's right. She ruled on over 20,000 cases in a real court of law and then another 12,500 cases in her television show. That's insane, isn't it? Okay, now for our 50th most famous person born today. We've talked about breaking the rules, right? And sometimes that helps people become famous. Well, other times accidents just happen. And that's another way to achieve some fame. For example, today's 50th most famous birthday, according to famousbirthdays.com, is the Gorilla Glue Girl. Have you ever heard of her? Yeah, the Gorilla Glue Girl. Her real name is Tessica Brown, and she accidentally used Gorilla Glue adhesive spray in her hair instead of regular hairspray. And then she posted videos of her journey trying to fix this mess that she made of her hair. Now, I didn't have time to fully research this story deep enough. to learn why anyone would put Gorilla Glue Spray in the same area as they keep their regular hairspray. I don't know. Seems sketchy to me. Today is Back to the Future Day. Why today? Well, right at the end of the first movie, Doc Brown shows up in his fusion-powered DeLorean, and he takes Marty and Jennifer to October 21st, 2015, because something was wrong with their kids. I like it, but what I love is talking about the flux capacitor, which we are going to do on November 5th, so stay tuned. Today is also National Apple Day. I'm talking about the kind you eat, not the kind you use to listen to podcasts. Celebrating the apple in the fall is smart, right? It's around the best time to harvest apples. And then today is also Loud Shirt Day. And there's more that meets the eye or ear with this one. The point of wearing a loud shirt to work or school is to get people to remark, hey, that's a pretty loud shirt. And then you explain the real purpose, which is raising awareness for children with hearing loss. Loud shirt, get to raise awareness. That's a noble cause, right? All right, so do you need a gift idea for your loved one? Well, In addition to retelling the stories you just learned about this day in history, you can have them open up a gift that is customized to their birthday. And I have several great ideas for you. And as always, you can find links to get these in the gift idea section of the show notes. Now, often I mention you can get a unique gift for the person who has everything. And once again, today is no exception. Starting with the master of Menlo Park. you can find vintage-looking light bulbs that look just like they came from the early 1900s. There are also coffee table books featuring Edison and the light bulb invention, along with some of his others. And if your loved one is a foodie, there are plenty of nacho chips and cheese options, along with more coffee table books with nacho recipes. And keeping the coffee table book theme going, there's also plenty of those featuring the Guggenheim Museum. But in addition to that, there's some great wall art featuring Mr. G's fancy schmancy building. Or you could just take your loved one to the Guggenheim. Why not? They'll love it. The famous folks that were born today also have some great gift ideas associated with them, mostly movies and posters. Similarly, today's special holidays have unique gift ideas. You can even get some spray-on Gorilla Glue and then decide for yourself how Tessica accidentally could have sprayed this stuff in her hair. Yep, so there are actually lots of customized gifts for folks who wake up ready to celebrate October 21st. And these ideas are unique to only this day of the year. But if you really want to up your gift-giving game, you have the chance to make someone's birthday special. You could dedicate a personalized shout-out right here on the podcast, and they will be memorialized forever. Yeah, I can do the shout-out for you if you email me their name and something fun you want to share, like this one. Hey, Bethany, it's been a long, long time since we've connected. I hope your life has been blessed and that you enjoy October 21st more and more as the years roll by. Just like rolling the dice in Monopoly, right? Okay. Or you can do your own shout out by using the speak pipe link that's available in the show notes. Here's an example for today's special someone.

Guest:

Hey, babe, just wanted to take this opportunity to tell my soulmate, my partner in crime, and the love of my life how thankful I am for this day all the way back in 1975. Because without this day, I wouldn't have you, and I can't imagine my life without you. I love you so much, and I can't wait to see how the next chapter of our life together unfolds. Happy birthday, babe. I love you.

Truman:

Wow. Now that's a great shout out. The world needs more love like that. As always, if you have a story that just needs to be shared about any day in the past, email me at daystriderstories at gmail.com and let's connect. In fact, as many of you know, I have a Facebook page and I put interesting or fun stuff out there every day. What happened on this day in history or something fun about today's special holiday, stuff like that. Well, from time to time, people send me pictures or links to great stories. For example, my friend Tyler was recently in Baltimore and he traveled past the Getz's Candy Plant and he sent me a picture. Basically saying, hey, do a story on this candy. And I've looked it up. I got it on my list. Also, my friend Muddy Grimes, who was a guest on June 11th to talk about Hot Rod Day, recently sent me a link to the greatest beer run ever. And I've researched that too and added it to my list as well. That's awesome. Thanks, guys. I'm going to send you both a sticker. Oh, while I'm talking about Muddy Grimes, he has recently started a new podcast called Imperial, and it's all about Chryslers. So if you own or drive a Chrysler or want to learn more about Chryslers and all the different brands under that umbrella, check him out. Imperial. Alrighty, then. Thanks so much for listening. I know it's been a minute since our last episode was published. It's actually been a long time. And yes, this show did come out more than a month after it was supposed to. But hey, sometimes life gets in the way, right? Well, I really appreciate the feedback from so many of you, and I'm still going to keep this podcast rolling into 25. There are some great stories coming up, and I can't wait to get to them. I hope you had half as much fun listening as I did creating this episode, especially when it comes to my imaginary insiders. All three of those voices are characters that my children have heard throughout their growing up years. Sharing today's episode with a friend or family member would be incredible and sincerely appreciated. Thanks so much for listening. Until next time, this is Truman Pastworthy, reminding you that every day has a great story. And we'll be striding through them all to find some more goodies for you. Now get out there and make your own great story today.